Update regarding preparation and arrangements for Storm Eunice for early learning and care and school-age childcare services

The department advised earlier today that early learning and care and school-age childcare services should close tomorrow (18 Feb) in counties where status red warnings are in place and in counties where status orange snow and wind warnings are in place.

Met Eireann has now advised that a status red warning has been assigned to counties Clare and Waterford.

Met Eireann has also advised that status orange snow warnings are in place for counties Donegal, Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim and Roscommon. The department wishes to advise that these snow warnings were referred to as snow and wind warnings in our earlier communication – we apologise if this caused confusion.

To summarise, ELC and SAC services should close tomorrow (Friday, 18 February) in the following counties:

• Cork (red warning)
• Kerry (red warning)
• Clare (red warning)
• Waterford (red warning)
• Donegal (orange snow warning)
• Sligo (orange snow warning)
• Mayo (orange snow warning)
• Leitrim (orange snow warning)
• Roscommon (orange snow warning)

ELC and SAC services in counties not listed above should open as normal tomorrow – unless local conditions are such that it is unsafe to do so (for example: fallen trees and power lines.)

The department strongly recommends that you regularly review the Met Eireann website this evening and early in the morning for any further updates. In the event that additional counties are upgraded to red or orange snow warning, ELC and SAC services in these counties should also close tomorrow.